Edinburg EDC to launch “Edinburg Connect”, a Facebook page live broadcast, with first episode set for 10 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2017

The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation will launch “Edinburg Connect”, a live interactive broadcast on its Facebook page, beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2017. “We have a new medium, ‘Edinburg Connect’, and we are going to reach out to you so you can reach out to us, and we can talk with each other, live, on Facebook,” explains Agustín García, Executive Director of the Edinburg EDC, in a recent posting on the Edinburg EDC Facebook page.“You can ask questions and we are going to give you answers. We will have guests from the city, guests from the county, guests from everywhere. We are very excited about our new initiative, ‘Edinburg Connect’, here at the Edinburg EDC.” One of the viewers who participates in the live event will have the chance to win a $100 gift card to Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg. The Edinburg EDC’s Facebook page is available at:http://www.facebook.com/edinburgedc

Photograph By JENNIFER CABRERA

The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced the creation of “Edinburg Connect”, a live broadcast on the Edinburg EDC Facebook page that will provide viewers worldwide the chance to see and hear from, and to interact with, city, county and other leaders about economic development activities, successes and related goals for the city. The first episode will go online live on Monday, August 28, 2017, beginning at 10 a.m. The Edinburg EDC is the jobs-creation arm of Edinburg Mayor Richard García and the Edinburg City Council, which includes Mayor Pro Tem J.R. Betancourt, Councilmember Homer Jasso, Jr., Councilmember Richard Molina, and Councilmember David Torres. In addition to Mayor García, who serves as President of the Edinburg EDC Board of Directors, the other board members are Harvey Rodríguez, Jr. as Vice President, Elías Longoria, Jr. as Secretary/Treasurer, and Richard Rupert and Dr. Peter Dabrowski as Members. Mayor Richard García and Edinburg EDC Executive Director Agustín García are not related. New live broadcasts of “Edinburg Connect” are scheduled to take place every two weeks, and all episodes will be remain on the Edinburg EDC Facebook page.

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Edinburg EDC to launch “Edinburg Connect”, a Facebook page live broadcast, with first episode set for 10 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2017

The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation will launch “Edinburg Connect”, a live interactive broadcast on its Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/edinburgedc), beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2017.

“Edinburg Connect”, which will be hosted by Agustín García, Executive Director of the Edinburg EDC, will provide viewers worldwide the chance to see and hear from, and to interact with, city, county and other leaders about economic development activities, successes, and related goals for the city.

We have a new medium, ‘Edinburg Connect’, and we are going to reach out to you so you can reach out to us, and we can talk with each other, live, on Facebook,” Agustín García, Executive Director of the Edinburg EDC, explains in a recent posting on the Edinburg EDC Facebook page. “You can ask questions and we are going to give you answers. We will have guests from the city, guests from the county, guests from everywhere. We are very excited about our new initiative, ‘Edinburg Connect’, here at the Edinburg EDC.”

One of the viewers who participates in the live event will have the chance to win a $100 gift card to Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg.

New live broadcasts of “Edinburg Connect” are scheduled to take place every two weeks, and all episodes will be remain on the Edinburg EDC Facebook page.

The Edinburg EDC is the jobs-creation arm of Edinburg Mayor Richard García and the Edinburg City Council, which includes Mayor Pro Tem J.R. Betancourt, Councilmember Homer Jasso, Jr., Councilmember Richard Molina, and Councilmember David Torres.

In addition to Mayor García, who serves as President of the Edinburg EDC Board of Directors, the other board members are Harvey Rodríguez, Jr. as Vice President, Elías Longoria, Jr. as Secretary/Treasurer, and Richard Rupert and Dr. Peter Dabrowski as Members.

During the live broadcasts, viewers worldwide will be able to submit questions and ideas in the comments section for that posting, and those inquiries and recommendations will be forwarded to the Edinburg EDC Executive Director and/or the episode’s guest(s) for their replies.

News of “Edinburg Connect” already is drawing considerable attention, based on the Edinburg EDC Facebook figures as of Saturday afternoon, August 26, 2016, that more than 2,800 views already had taken place on the Edinburg EDC Facebook announcement about “Edinburg Connect”.

“Awesome!” Leslie Bird responded in the comment segment of the “Edinburg Connect” posting on the Edinburg EDC Facebook. “Love the idea of a show. Great way to stay connected and informed.”

Myssie Cárdenas-Barajas and Michelle González also gave their support for “Edinburg Connect”.

Among its other key duties, the Edinburg EDC serves local companies by providing assistance with expansion plans, programs to help retain business, and advocating for policies that enhance the region’s economic competitiveness.

According to its website, edinburgedc.com, the Edinburg EDC, which is a part of the city government, features the following priorities for constituents and for individuals looking to bring their businesses to Edinburg:

Access

We connect you to the right people. Whether it is finding the right talent, necessary capital to grow your business, or connecting you to industry peers, EDC leverages its network of partners to help companies grow in our region. We’ll serve as your advocate with local government agencies, facilitate introductions to industry trade associations, and other private organizations throughout our region.

Advocacy

We coordinate and conduct outreach to discuss issues affecting companies’ ability to stay and grow in the region. We work with elected officials, universities, and other policy makers to facilitate your needs whether your concern is workforce, infrastructure, transportation, housing, or another issue.

Positioning

We work through local, state, national, and international communication channels to elevate our region, leading industry sectors, and individual companies. Our regularly distributed publications showcase investment in the region and news in a wide spectrum of industries.

Business Retention

We serve local companies by providing assistance with expansion plans, programs to help retain business, and advocating for policies that enhance the region’s economic competitiveness.

Business Expansion

We lead attraction efforts to bring new investment and new companies to the region. We market the region to highlight the incredible talent available and the quality of life that keeps them here. We collaborate with industry associations and economic development partners to develop cohesive approaches to regional issues.

Business Attraction

We see the big picture. Work with us to determine how your company can take advantage of the unique assets of this bi-national, bilingual, region.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALEY NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COLLEGES IN TEXAS BYBESTCOLLEGES.COM

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which has its largest campus and its School of Medicine located in Edinburg, has been ranked on the annual list of the Top 25 Best Colleges in Texas by BestColleges.com, a leading provider of higher education information and resources.

“The Best Colleges in Texas ranking, which was announced on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 , aimsto highlight higher education institutions in the state that are committed to excellent academic education and affordable, meaningful learning opportunities for students,” said Stephanie Snider, general manager of bestcolleges.com.

“The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley stands out as one of the best colleges in the state due to their offering of 118 undergraduate and graduate degrees, their new medical school, their internationally recognized faculty, and their recognition as one of the top Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the country,” she said.

UTRGV ranked 13th overall, third among The University of Texas System schools behind No. 2 UT Austin and No. 4 UT Dallas.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said the success of UTRGV students is a core priority that drives decisions about pivotal factors like degree choices and faculty.

“The Rio Grande Valley community is important to us, and our goal is to graduate students and help ensure that they become valuable contributors to the prosperity of the region,” Bailey said. “We are committed to making sure they have good choices and many options for building their futures.”

The Edinburg EDC, along with the Edinburg Mayor, Edinburg City Council, and City of Edinburg lobby the Texas Legislature and the University of Texas System Board of Regents for policies and programs which benefit the UTRGV campus and School of Medicine in Edinburg.

bestcolleges.com helps prospective students find the school that best meets their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides and hundreds of unique college rankings. They also provide a wide array of college planning, financial aid and career resources to help students get the most from their education and prepare them for the world after college.

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Marci Caltabiano contributed to this article. For more information on the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and the City of Edinburg, please log on to or tohttp://www.facebook.com/edinburgedc